bio - sonic architect

Image: David Leikam (NS Design CR6-string fretless electric cello - NSixArtist)

Location: Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, California, USA

Photo: Peter L. Buranzon

San Francisco Bay Area-based composer-performer and bandleader. Being born with cerebral palsy has affected his body and speech, giving him a distinct view into his creative arts/music process and being largely a self-taught multi-instrumentalist.

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You are the note(s) within music composition and those you select to compose/perform music with you, either live on stage or in the recording studio.

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• Buy David Leikam Music

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Primary Instruments

• NS Design CR6-strings Radius fretless electric bass (NS Artist)

• NS Design CR6-strings fretless electric cello (NS Artist)

• Moog Rogue synthesizer

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He has performed and/or recorded with: Wadada Leo Smith, Pamela Z, Eddie Gale, Kidd Jordan, Paul Wexler, John Bergamo, Doug Ellington, Muruga Booker, James Gurley, Perry Robinson, Sikiru Adepoju, Jon Raskin, Timothy Orr, Patrick Cress, Sheila Bosco, amongst others.

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ACADEMIA

• 2004-06 California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

MFA, Music Composer-Performer in African-American Improvisational Music

(Minors in Modern Dance Collaboration/History and Performance Arts.)​

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• 1998-2001 California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

BFA, Music Composition

(Minors in Modern Dance Collaboration, Performance Arts, and Visual Arts construction.)​

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• 1996-1997 Musicians Institute (MI Hollywood)

RIT, Audio/Sound Engineering/Production - live and studio production with honours.